Vincent van Gogh: biography of the great artist. The life of Van Gogh, interesting facts and creativity

Vincent Van Gogh, who gave the world his Sunflowers and Starry Night, was one of the greatest creators of all time. A small grave in the countryside of France became the place of his repose. He fell asleep forever among the landscapes that he left in his famous paintings. Van Gogh is an artist who will never be forgotten. For the sake of art he sacrificed everything ...

A unique talent given by nature

"There is something in color from a delightful symphony." Behind these words was a creative genius. Moreover, he was smart and sensitive. The depth and lifestyle of this person is often misinterpreted. Van Gogh, whose biography has been studied extensively by many generations, is the most incomprehensible creator in the history of art.

First of all, the reader must understand that Vincent is not only the one who went crazy and shot himself. Many know that Van Gogh cut off his ear, and someone - that he painted a whole cycle of paintings about sunflowers. But very few people who really understand what a talent Vincent possessed, what a unique gift he was awarded by nature.

The sad birth of a great creator

On March 30, 1853, the cry of a newborn child cut through the silence. The long-awaited baby was born in the family of Anna Cornelia and pastor Theodore Van Gogh. It happened one year after the tragic death of their first child, who died in a few hours after the birth. When registering this baby, identical data were given, and the long-awaited son was given the name of the lost child - Vincent William.

So in the rural wilderness in the south of the Netherlands began the saga of one of the world's most famous artists. His birth was associated with sad events. It was a child, conceived after a bitter loss, born to people who were still mourning their deceased first-born.

Childhood years of Vincent

Every Sunday this red-haired freckled boy went to church, where he listened to the sermons of his parent. His father was a minister of the Dutch Protestant church, and Vincent Van Gogh grew up in accordance with the norms of upbringing adopted in religious families.

In Vincent's time there was an unspoken rule. The eldest son should follow in the footsteps of his father. It was supposed to happen. This imposed a heavy burden on the shoulders of young Van Gogh. While the boy was sitting on the church bench, listening to the sermon of his father, he fully understood what was expected of him. And, of course, then Vincent Van Gogh, whose biography was not yet connected with art, did not know that in the future he would decorate the father's Bible with illustrations.

Between Art and Religious Attraction

The church occupied an important place in Vincent's life and had a tremendous influence on him. Being a sensitive and impressionable person, he torn his whole troubled life between religious zeal and a craving for art.

In 1857, his brother Theo was born. None of the boys knew then that Theo would play a big role in Vincent's life. They spent many happy days. Long walks among the surrounding fields and knew all the paths around.

Gift of young Vincent

Nature in the rural outback, where Vincent Van Gogh was born and raised, will later become the red thread passing through all his art. The hard work of the peasants left a deep impression in his soul. He developed in himself a romantic perception of rural life, respected the inhabitants of this area and was proud of the neighborhood with them. After all, they earned their living by honest and hard work.

Vincent Van Gogh was a man who loved everything that is connected with nature. He saw beauty in everything. The boy often painted and did it with such a feeling and attention to detail, which are more common in more mature age. He demonstrated the skills and skill of an experienced artist. Vincent was really gifted.

Communication with the mother and her love of art

Vincent's mother, Anna Cornelia, was a good artist and strongly supported the son's love for nature. He often walked alone, enjoying the silence and tranquility of the endless fields and canals. When the twilight was gathering and the fog fell, Van Gogh returned to the cozy house, where he crackled the fire pleasantly and knocked at the beat of his mother's spokes.

She loved art and had extensive correspondence. This habit was adopted by Vincent. He wrote letters until the end of his days. Thanks to this, Van Gogh, whose biography began to be studied by specialists after his death, could not only reveal his feelings, but also recreate many events related to his life.

Mother and son spent long hours together. They drew pencil and colors, conducted lengthy conversations about their unifying love of art and nature. Meanwhile, my father was in the study room, preparing for the Sunday sermon in the church.

Rural life away from politics

The imposing building of the Zündert administration was directly in front of their house. Once Vincent drew the capital of this building, looking out of the window of his bedroom, located on the top floor. Later, he often depicted scenes seen from this window. Looking at his talented drawings of that period, it's hard to believe that he was only nine years old.

Contrary to the expectations of his father, a passion for drawing and nature took root in the boy. He collected an impressive collection of insects and knew how they are all called in Latin. Very soon his friends became ivy and moss of a dense thick forest. In the depths of his soul, he was a truly rural boy, he studied the canals of Zundert, he caught the tadpoles with a net.

Van Gogh's life passed away from politics, wars and all other events taking place in the world. His world was formed around beautiful flowers, interesting, inspirational books and peaceful landscapes.

Communication with peers or home education?

Unfortunately, a special attitude towards nature made him an outcast among other village children. He was not popular. The rest of the boys were mostly the sons of the peasants, they loved the rustic rural life. Sensitive and sensitive Vincent, who was interested in books and nature, did not fit into their society at all.

The life of the young Van Gogh was not easy. Parents were worried that other boys would have a bad influence on his behavior. Then, unfortunately, Pastor Theodore found out that Vincent's teacher was too addicted to drinking, and then the parents decided that the child should be saved from such influence. Before the age of eleven, the boy studied at home, and then his father decided that he needed to get a more serious education.

Further education: boarding school

Young Van Gogh, biography, interesting facts and personal life of which today are interested in a huge number of people, is sent in 1864 to a boarding school in Zevenbergen. This is a small village, located about twenty-five kilometers from home. But for Vincent she was like the other end of the world. The boy was sitting in the cart next to his parents, and the closer the walls of the orphanage approached, the harder it became in his heart. Soon he will part with his family.

Vincent will miss his home all his life. Isolation from relatives left a deep imprint in his life. Van Gogh was an intelligent child and was drawn to knowledge. While studying at a boarding school, he showed great ability for languages, and this later came in handy in his life. Vincent spoke and wrote fluently in French, English, Dutch and German. So spent his childhood, Van Gogh. A brief biography of the young years could not convey all those traits that had been laid down since childhood and subsequently influenced the fate of the artist.

Training in Tilburg, or An Incomprehensible story that happened to the boy

In 1866, the boy turned thirteen, and primary education came to an end. Vincent became a very serious young man, whose look read boundless longing. He is sent further away from home, to Tilburg. He begins training in a public boarding school. Here Vincent first met with city life.

The study of art was allocated four hours a week, which at that time was a rarity. This subject was taught by Mr. Hayismans. He was a successful artist and ahead of his time. As models for the work of his students, he used statuettes of people and stuffed animals. The teacher also encouraged children to write landscapes and even take children to nature.

Everything went well, and Vincent easily passed the exams for the first year. But over the next year something went wrong. Van Gogh's attitude toward learning and work has changed dramatically. Therefore, in March 1868, he leaves school right in the middle of the training period and comes home. What did Vincent Van Gogh endure at Tilburg School? A brief biography of this period, unfortunately, does not give any information about this. And yet, these events left a deep imprint on the young man's soul.

Choice of life path

In Vincent's life, there was a long pause. At home, he spent fifteen long months, not daring to choose this or that way of life. When he was sixteen, he wanted to find his calling to devote his whole life to him. The days passed uselessly, he needed to find a goal. Parents understood that something needs to be done and turned for help to the brother of his father, who lives in The Hague. He headed an artistic trading company and could arrange Vincent to work for him. This idea turned out to be brilliant.

If the young man shows diligence, he will become the heir of his rich uncle, who did not have his own children. Vincent, tired of the unhurried life of his native places, happily goes to The Hague, the administrative center of Holland. In the summer of 1869, Van Gogh, whose biography is now directly related to art, begins his career.

Vincent became an employee in the company "Gupil". His mentor lived in France and collected works of artists from the Barbizon school. At that time in this country were fond of landscapes. Uncle Van Gogh dreamed of the appearance of such masters in Holland. He becomes the mastermind of The Hague School. Vincent happened to get acquainted with many artists.

Art - the main thing in life

Acquainted with the affairs of the company, Van Gogh had to learn to negotiate with customers. And while Vincent was a junior employee, he picked up the clothes of visitors to the gallery of people, served as a porter. The young man was inspired by the world of art surrounding him. One of the artists of the Barbizon school was Jean Francois Millet. His canvas "Collectors ears" found a response in Vincent's soul. It became a kind of icon for the artist to the very end of life. Millet portrayed the peasants at work in a special manner, which was close to Van Gogh.

In 1870 Vincent met Anton Mauve, who eventually becomes his close friend. Van Gogh was a laconic, reserved person, predisposed to depression. He sincerely sympathized with people who were less fortunate in life than to him. Vincent was very serious about the sermons of his father. After a day's work, he went to private theology classes.

Another passion of Van Gogh were books. He is fond of French history and poetry, and also becomes a fan of English writers. In March 1871 Vincent turns eighteen. By this time, he already realized that art is a very important part of his life. His younger brother Theo at that time turned fifteen, and he came on vacation to Vincent. This trip left a deep impression on both.

They even gave a promise that they would take care of each other for the rest of their lives, whatever happened. From this period begins an active correspondence, which lead Teo and Van Gogh. The artist's biography will later be supplemented by important facts thanks to these letters. To this day, 670 Vincent's messages have come down.

Trip to London. Important stage of life

Vincent spent four years in The Hague. It's time to move on. Saying goodbye to friends and colleagues, he prepared for his departure to London. This stage of life will become very important for him. Soon Vincent settled in the English capital. The branch of the company "Gupil" was located in the heart of the business district. On the streets grew chestnuts with spreading branches. Van Gogh loved these trees and often mentioned this in his letters to his relatives.

A month later his knowledge in English expanded. Art masters intrigued him, he liked Gainsborough and Turner, but he remained faithful to the art that he loved in The Hague. To save money, Vincent moves out of the apartment, rented to him by the company "Gupil" in the market area, and takes a room in a new Victorian house.

He liked to live with Mrs. Ursula. The mistress of the house was a widow. She and her nineteen-year-old daughter Evgenia rented rooms and conducted teaching activities to at least somehow make ends meet. Over time, Vincent began to feel very deep feelings for Eugene, but did not give them out. He could write about this only to his relatives.

Severe psychological shock

Dickens was one of Vincent's idols. He was deeply touched by the writer's death, and he expressed all his pain in a symbolic drawing made soon after such a sad event. It was a picture of an empty chair. Van Gogh, whose paintings have become very famous, painted a large number of such chairs. For him, it became a symbol of the departure of man.

Vincent describes the first year in London as one of the happiest. He was in love with absolutely everything and still dreamed of Eugene. She won his heart. Van Gogh tried in every possible way to please her, offering her help in various matters. After some time, Vincent still confessed to the girl in her feelings and announced that they should marry. But Eugene answered him with a refusal, because she was already secretly engaged. Van Gogh was devastated. His dream of love was shattered.

He shut himself up, spoke little at work and at home. I began to eat a little. The realities of life inflicted a heavy psychological blow on Vincent. He starts drawing again, and this partly helps him to find peace and distracts from the heavy thoughts and upheavals Van Gogh experienced. The paintings gradually heal the artist's soul. Reason was absorbed in creativity. He went into another dimension, which is typical of many creative natures.

A change of scenery. Paris and Homecoming

Vincent was alone again. He began to pay more attention to the street beggars and the ragged inhabitants of the slums of London, and this only increased his depression. He wanted to change something. At work, he showed apathy, which seriously worried his leadership.

It was decided to send him to the Paris office of the firm, in order to change the situation and, perhaps, to dispel the depression. But even there, Van Gogh was unable to recover from loneliness and already in 1877 returned home to work as a priest in the church, leaving ambition to become an artist.

A year later, Van Gogh becomes a parish priest in a mining village. It was an ungrateful job. The life of the miners had a great impression on the artist. He decided to share their fate and even began to dress like them. Representatives of the church were concerned about his behavior and two years later he was removed from office. But the time spent in the village had a beneficial effect. Life among the miners awakened in Vincent special talent, and he again began to paint. He created a huge number of sketches of men and women carrying bags of coal. Van Gogh finally decided for himself to become an artist. It is from this moment in his life that a new period begins.

The next bouts of depression and the return home

The artist Van Gogh, whose biography repeatedly mentions that his parents refused to supply him with money because of instability in his career, was a beggar. He was helped by the younger brother Theo, who was engaged in the sale of paintings in Paris. Over the next five years Vincent improves his technique. Equipped with his brother's money, he travels to the Netherlands. Makes sketches, writes oil and watercolor.

Wishing to find his own picturesque style, in 1881 Van Gogh falls into The Hague. Here he takes an apartment near the sea. This was the beginning of a long relationship between the artist and his environment. In periods of despair and depression, nature was part of Vincent's life. She was for him the personification of the struggle for existence. He did not have money, he often starved. Parents who did not approve of the artist's way of life, completely turned away from him.

Theo comes to The Hague and persuades his brother to return home. At the age of thirty, a beggar and a desperate Van Gogh comes to a parental home. There he arranges a small workshop for himself and starts making sketches of local residents and buildings. During this period, its palette becomes muffled. Van Gogh's canvases all come out in gray-brown tones. In the winter, people have more time, and the artist uses them as their models.

It was at this time in the work of Vincent there are sketches of the hands of farmers and people collecting potatoes. "Potato eaters" is the first significant canvas by Van Gogh, which he wrote in 1885, at the age of thirty-two. The most important detail of the work is the hands of people. Strong, accustomed to work in the field, harvesting. The artist's talent finally burst out.

Impressionism and Van Gogh. Photo of self-portrait

In 1886, Vincent arrives in Paris. Financially, he also continues to depend on his brother. Here, in the capital of world art, Van Gogh strikes a new trend - impressionists. A new artist is born. He creates a huge number of self-portraits, landscapes and sketches of everyday life. His palette is also changing, but the main changes have touched the technique of writing. Now he paints sketchy lines, short strokes and dots.

The cold and gloomy winter of 1887 affected the artist's condition, and he again fell into depression. The time spent in Paris had a huge impact on Vincent, but he felt it was time to get ready again. He went to the south of France, to the province. Here Vincent begins to write like a possessed person. Its palette is full of bright colors. Heavenly azure, bright yellow and orange. As a result, juicy colors appeared on the color scale, thanks to which the artist became famous.

Van Gogh suffered from bouts of violent hallucinations. He felt that he was going crazy. The disease increasingly affected his work. In 1888, Theo persuaded Gauguin, with whom Van Gogh was in very friendly relations, to go and see his brother. Paul lived with Vincent for two exhausting months. They often quarreled, and one day Van Gogh even attacked Paul with a blade in his hand. Soon Vincent injured himself, cutting off his own ear. He was sent to the hospital. It was one of the most powerful attacks of insanity.

Soon, on July 29, 1890, Vincent Van Gogh died, having committed suicide. He lived his life in poverty, ignorance and isolation, and remained an unrecognized artist. But now he is revered all over the world. Vincent turned into a legend, and his work influenced subsequent generations of artists.